Man jailed for life after murdering 'entirely innocent' boy in Sheffield
Zulkernain Ahmed will serve a minimum of 29 years behind bars
Last updated 5 hours ago
A man has been jailed for life with a minimum of 29 years after murdering a 'entirely innocent' boy in Sheffield.
16-year-old Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi was struck by a car last year in the city on Staniforth Road. Zulkernain Ahmed was driving an Audi down the wrong side of the road when he hit another man that he was said to be targeting.
He then went on to hit teenager Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi, who died in hospital a short time later.
Another man - Armaan Ahmed, who was a back seat passenger in the Audi, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter - he's been sentenced to 17 years in jail.
A judge said 16-year-old Abdullah Yaser Al Yazidi was “tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time” when Zulkernain Ahmed, who's 21, hit him, throwing him into the air, as he drove down the wrong side of a busy Sheffield street to target a group of e-bike and moped riders.
Jurors in Ahmed’s trial were shown what a judge called “chilling” video footage of how Ahmed’s Audi S3 drove at the balaclava-clad riders, knocking one over a hedge.
It then showed how the vehicle ploughed into the teenager, who was seen throwing and catching a water bottle as he walked along the pavement moments before the collision.
At the beginning of Ahmed’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, prosecutor Alistair MacDonald KC read a statement from Abdullah’s father, Yaser Abdullah Taleb Al Yazidi.
Mr Al Yazidi explained how his son had only come to Sheffield from Yemen two months before he died.
He said in the statement: “Life in Yemen was almost impossible – war, gangs, and individuals carrying weapons.
“I travelled to England in search of safety and for a better life for me and my family.”
During sentencing at Sheffield Crown Court the judge told the brothers that Abdullah “was an optimistic person who loved life and loved people”.
“He was always smiling, adored by his family and loved by everyone,” she said.
“He was only 16-years-old when, walking in the afternoon sun on the pavement of Staniforth Road on June 4 last year, he was murdered by a car driven on the pavement by you, Zulkernain Ahmed.”
She said: “The court is very well aware that that was a year ago today.”
The judge said of Abdullah: “He was tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
She said his “senseless and shocking death has been devastating for his parents, sisters and wider family and friends”, adding that their lives have been “changed forever by this terrible and tragic murder”.
Detective Chief Inspector Ben Wood, who was the Senior Investigating Officer, said:
"First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Abdullah's loved ones. A year ago today their lives were shattered and changed forever.
"Abdullah was simply running an errand for his family, something we all should be able to do safely. Abduallah, his family and everyone who knew and loved him have had to pay the ultimate price for the reckless disregard for the safety of others shown by his killers.
"Their loss is immeasurable, and although I know this sentence can never undo the pain they continue to endure, I hope his family can get some form of closure from the sentences passed today."
Zulkernain and Armaan were also found not guilty of three counts of attempted murder. Zulkernain was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. Armaan was found guilty of Section 20 wounding.